Barrichello leads Ferrari 1-2 in Monza

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello led a Ferrari one-two in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday to trigger a homecoming party for the Formula One champions.

Barrichello took the chequered flag for the first time since last season's final race in Japan, a mere 1.3 seconds ahead of team mate Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher clinched an unprecedented seventh drivers' crown in Belgium two weeks ago. Ferrari were parading in front of their home fans with a sixth successive constructors' championship also secured.

It was Barrichello's eighth career win, and Ferrari's 13th in 15 races this year, and it came from pole despite a gamble on tyre choice that looked to have backfired for both Ferrari drivers early in the race.

Heavy rain in the morning had left the track damp and Barrichello opted to start on intermediate tyres while Schumacher, who ended the first lap in 15th place after a spin, was on dry rubber.

Briton Jenson Button was third for BAR after leading for 24 of the 53 laps, ahead of Japanese team mate Takuma Sato.

The 11 points catapulted the Honda-powered team into second place overall after rivals Renault failed to score.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth for Williams with McLaren's David Coulthard sixth and Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia seventh for Williams.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella gave the home crowd something else to cheer about by securing the final point for Ferrari-powered Sauber.

Sunday's race was the last European round of the season, with the Formula One circus now moving to an inaugural race in China before Japan and the finale in Brazil.